Rep. Melissa Litchfield

Maddy summarySB 408 requires health insurance policies in New Hampshire to cover prosthetic devices for adults over 19, expanding existing coverage that previously applied only to children under 19. The bill mandates coverage for activity-specific prosthetics (like those for sports) but limits this to one device every five years. It also requires insurers to cover necessary materials, instruction, and repairs for medically needed prosthetics, without annual limits. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to most group health insurance plans, excluding Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) plans.

Maddy summarySB 617 requires the New Hampshire State Police to use a rotating list of qualified tow companies for removing abandoned, stolen, disabled, or illegally parked vehicles. The bill mandates that the State Police maintain this list by geographic area (e.g., troop or county) and vehicle type (such as heavy or light-duty tow trucks) to ensure appropriate service for each removal. The list can be adjusted to manage workload and travel distances, and it will specify which tow companies are equipped for specific vehicle classes. This change applies to all vehicle removals conducted under state law, including those obstructing roads, abandoned on private property, or involved in accidents.

Maddy summarySB 624 prohibits the sale and possession of hemp-derived products containing more than 0.3% THC (including delta-8, delta-9, and other THC variants), effective January 1, 2027. It bans all THC-containing hemp products for anyone under 21 and imposes fines: $100 for a first possession violation (or $300-$1,200 for subsequent offenses), with businesses facing up to $20,000 in fines. Liquor licensees must comply with these restrictions, forfeiting prohibited products upon conviction. The bill directly affects consumers, retailers, and licensed businesses selling hemp products in New Hampshire.

Maddy summaryHB 1308 increases penalties for drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus in New Hampshire. It makes sworn testimony from bus drivers or witnesses sufficient evidence for violations, allows bus camera footage to be used as proof (but only for legal proceedings), and adds specific penalties: a $300 fine plus a 7-day license suspension for a first offense, escalating to a $750 fine plus 15 days in jail and indefinite license revocation for a third offense. This bill directly affects drivers who fail to stop for school buses, particularly those with prior violations. The changes take effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1460 prohibits companies and services that collect children's data from selling their location or other sensitive information. It directly affects businesses operating apps, websites, or platforms that gather data from minors, banning the sale regardless of parental consent. The bill amends New Hampshire's data privacy law (RSA 507-H) by adding a new requirement that covered entities cannot sell children's data, building on existing federal COPPA rules. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, without new state funding or positions.

Maddy summaryHB 1444 requires New Hampshire state agencies and local governments (counties, cities, towns) to stop purchasing or acquiring drones not on an official "cleared list" after January 1, 2028. The bill mandates the Department of Safety to create and maintain a public list of security-compliant drones by that date, including models cleared by the Defense Department, meeting federal security standards, or proven incapable of unauthorized data transmission. All state and local procurement must prioritize drones on this list, with contracts for non-listed drones deemed void. The bill has no new funding impact, as noted in its fiscal analysis.

Maddy summaryHB 1449 prohibits vaccination clinics from operating at public elementary or secondary schools during school hours and requires a parent or legal guardian to be present with their child during any vaccination administered at such a clinic. The bill directly affects students receiving school-based vaccines, parents/guardians, and school staff coordinating these clinics. Key provisions include banning school-hour clinics and mandating parental accompaniment for immunizations, while exempting school nurses' existing duties under RSA 200:38. This policy change modifies how school vaccination events are scheduled and administered, without altering vaccine requirements or eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 1795 requires all current educators in New Hampshire - such as teachers, administrators, school nurses, and paraprofessionals - to submit a criminal history release form to the Department of Education when renewing their teaching license every three years, at least 60 days before expiration. The bill expands existing checks to include "neglect" in criminal history screenings and defines "educator" broadly to cover all license holders under the state board of education. It becomes effective July 1, 2027, and mandates a secure system for processing these checks. The law directly affects all licensed educators renewing credentials after this date, with no specified fiscal impact noted for the Department of Safety.

Maddy summaryHB 1064 modifies New Hampshire's laws on government liability for negligence. It increases the maximum payout for personal injury or property damage claims against government agencies from $325,000 to $475,000 per person per claim, with a $1.425 million limit per incident. The bill also requires local governments to cover employees' negligence costs (if not reckless) during work duties, shifting financial responsibility from employees to the agency. This directly affects injured individuals seeking compensation and government employees who may face personal liability for work-related incidents.

Maddy summaryHB 1270 clarifies the definition of part-time teachers in New Hampshire public schools. It specifies that part-time teachers (working up to 20 hours weekly) do not need state teaching credentials if they are affiliated with a NH university or community college, have subject-area expertise verified by a school leader, and pass criminal history checks. The bill also requires part-time teachers to follow the state's educator ethics code and bars those with revoked credentials from teaching under this section. This directly affects schools hiring part-time educators, particularly those with professional experience but without traditional teaching licenses.